Vehicle signaling device



May 15, 1923.

W. J. BEGLEY VEHICLE SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 1, 1921 Illlllllll ifiii'iilllllllllliii" )Fatented May 15, 19233 in a W WILLIAM JOHN BEG-LEY, OF ARVERI'ZE, NEE-l 5103K.

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Application filed. April 1,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, WILLIAM JOHN BEG- LEY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Arverne, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful improvements in Vehicle Signalin Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to traiiic-signaling devices and identification plates, having reference particularly to a device adapted for attachment to vehicles, especially automobiles.

The invention has for an object the pro vision of a combined, constantly visible license plate and signaling devices embodying a novel correlation of compactly assembled, readily operable parts constituting means whereby a chauffeur or driver may signal and indicate to persons traveling adjacent to or rearwardly of him any predetermined purpos to change his course of travehthus obviating liability of accidents by collision; a further objectbeing to provide a device of this character which is adaptable for either day or night use.

In the attainment of these objects I provide a plate having an opaque ground, a transparent window and transparent identification media, a translucent film or curtain adjustably extended across the back of said window and having stenciled signaling indicia, means for mounting and adjusting said film, an illuminating means, and means for housing said plate, film, the mountings therefor and the illuminating means, all as hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a face view illustrating an embodyment of my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view; and

Fig. 5 is a face view of a section of the indiciacarrying film.

, In th drawings 1 indicates a rectilinear plate of trans nt material, preferably glass,.having coating of opaque material 2, provided with a rectilinear transparent part 3, constituting a window, and stenciled numerals i constituting the identification means, as a license number. The opaque 1921. Serial No. 457,590.

ground 2, may embody a coating of dark paint, preferably black, or it may be a stenciled sheet of any adaptable material fixed to the transparent plate 1, whereby the identification numerals are clearly visible in daylight without necessity of any illumination, and light rays may be projected therethrough for providing visibility at night.

The said plate 1 is removably mounted within a sheet metal housing 5, having a wide opening 6, extended across its front wall, all other sides of said housing being closed, excepting that its top wall contains a longitudinal slot 7, through which the plate 1 may be inserted or removed, said plate being held against lateral movement by means of suitable stops 8.

Mounted interiorly on the rear wall of the housing 5, is an electric lamp 9, which is adaptable for electrical connection with a source of supply carried on the vehicle to which the device is attached, any adaptable means being employed for attaching the device to the vehicle.

Extended within and longitudinally across the housing 1, back of the window 3, is a translucent film or ribbon 10, which is preferably red in color having contrasting signaling indicia 11 stenciled thereon; these indicia are preferably white, whereby they are clearly visible through the window 3 in daylight, and are adapted to be illuminated, by means of the projected rays of the lamp 9, at night. The signaling indicia may constitute the word indicators: Left, Right, Slow and Stop arranged in rotation on the film 10, whereby they may be successively moved into position in register back of the transparent window 8, one only being visible at a time.

The film 3 is connected at one end and normally wound on a spring-actuated reel 12, whose spring 13 has a normal tendency to maintain the film wound as shown in 3 of the drawings, the other end of said film being connected t a roller 14, which is mounted on a vertical shaft .15, to which is connected 2.- flexible shaft 16, which leads to a casing 17, adapted to be mounted within the vehicle adjacent to the drivers seat, preferably on the rod of the steering wheel. Within said casing 17, is mounted a bevel wheel 18, which meshes with a bevel pinion 19., fixed to the flexible shaft 16, whereby rotary movement may be transmitted to the roller 14. The bevel wheel 18, is mounted the numeral 1, of the dial, rotates the roller 15, sufhciently to bring the signal indicator Right in register with the window 3, further movements of the lever 21 in the same direction successively moving the other indiciainto registration back of the window 3, movement of the lever 21, in the opposite direction, permitting the spring 13 to rewind the film and obscure its signaling indicia.

In the operation and use of the invention,

the signaling indicia are normally obscured,

a blank space on the ribbon 10, being visible through the transparent window 3. This blank space, owing to the translucency of the ribbon 10, isilluminated at night by 'means of the lamp 9, whereby said illuminated space may act as a tail light forthe vehicle when the indicia are not being employed, and the identification numerals lare constantly illuminated while the lamp is lighted.

To bring any one of the word-signal indicators into view it is simply necessary to move the lever 21 and hold it over any one of the numerals on the dial 522.

It is manifest that my improved device is adapted for either night or day use, its indicia being constantly visible by daylight and illuminated at night.

I do? not wish to be understood as confining myself to the specific details of formation and construction of the mechanical elements of my improvements as herein shown and described, as I believe that I am entitled to the employment of a wide range of variations of mere mechanical construction which may rightly fall within the spirit of. my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by 116tters Patent, is:

1. In a traflic signaling device, a rectilinear casing, means for interiorly lighting the same, and a removable plate having an opaque ground, a transparent window and transparent identification media, and a translucent ribbon-film back of said window, said ribbon-film having stenciled signaling indica, and a spring-actuated roller upon which said ribbon-film is normally wound and means for unwinding said ribbon-film whereby selective parts thereof may be displayed through said "window.

2. In a ,traflic signaling device, a rectilinear casing, means for interiorly lighting the sa1ne ,and a removable plate having an opaque ground, a transparent window and transparent identification media, and a translucent ribbon-film back of said window, said ribbon-film having stenciled signaling indicia, and a spring-actuated roller upon which the major part of said ribbon-film is normaily wound, and a freely rotatable roll er upon which one end of the ribbon-f lmis lined, and means for actuating said last named rolier whereby selective parts of the ribbon-film maybe displayed through the said window. I y i 3. In a trailic signaling device, a recti-, linear casing, and means for interiorly lighting the same, said casing having an open front and closed side, end, bottom and back walls, and a slot through its top wali, and a removable plate adapted to be introduced through said slot and maintained back of the casing front opening, said plate having an opaque ground, an elongated transparent window and transparent identification media, and a translucent ribbon-film back of said window, said ribbon film havingsten ciled signaling indicia, and a spring-actuated roller upon which the major part of.

said ribbon-film is normally wound, and a freely rotatable roller upon which one end of the ribbon-film is fixed, said rollers being in parallel alignment and located adjacent the respective ends of said transparent window, and means for actuating said last named roller whereby selective parts of the ribbon-film may be displayed through the said window.

t, In a tratlic signalingdevice, a rectilinear casing, and means forinteriorly lighting the same, and a removable plate having an opaque ground, a transparent window and transparent indentification media, and a translucent ribbon-film, and apair of parallel rollers for carrying said ribbonlilm, one roller being spring-actuated for maintaining the major part of the ribbon film normally wound, and the other roller being freely rotatable, and a flexible shaft fixed to said last named roller, and diii'erential gear transmission means, and an indicater. v r

Signed at the city of New York, State of N. Y., in the county of New York, this 28th day of March, A. D. 1921.

. WILLIAM JOHN Beater. 

